MovieChat Forums > Time After Time (1979) Discussion > Time After Time vs Back to the Future

Time After Time vs Back to the Future

posted 17 years ago by mjfluver4
12 replies | jump to latest

Which movie do you prefer? I've been into Back to the Future for a long time, even though I like lots of stories that involve time travel. When I found out that Mary Steenburgen would be in the movie, in a similar but sort-of opposite role - then I knew I had to check out this movie. Of course, there's also the fact that HG Wells is the protagonist of the movie - and I've figured that after Jules Verne, he sure would be Doc Brown's favourite author.

I am halfway through with doing the TAT/BTTF crossover: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/3819587/1/ - for those who are interested.

Of course, this movie does feature a different kind of time travel - where there appears to be a fixed timeline.

You see, in the beginning, all was well. There was harmony. There was balance.

~ Alex P Keaton

[–] turtletommy 17 years ago

Time after Time much more. They are really pretty different in tone. The BTTF franchise was popular when it came out and I was among those in the audiences back then. But I prefer the Time After Time story and execution much more. The leads were better by far as well and certainly not as young as the flavor of the moment Michael J. Fox or cartoony as the Doc (the guy from Taxi). BTTF seems more geared to teenagers and TAT to adults. The films based at least somewhat on H.G. Wells' novel like TAT and The Time Machine are to my mind still the best time travel films. Excluding the pointless The Time Machine remake.

[–] mjfluver4 17 years ago

Actually, I myself happen to be a big Michael J Fox fan - even though that's not what initially attracted me to Back to the Future. However, I did come to like the Marty McFly character a lot.

I guess you have a point, though, about how the movies seem to be geared to different audiences. I like appreciate the execution of Time After Time - and it kind of is more interesting to see someone in the past react to the future/present, than the other way around.

I think both movies are good in their own way, though - and I can see how Doc Brown would be very happy to meet one of his favourite authors. I can also see Amy and Clara getting along, and comparing their lives with each other.

You see, in the beginning, all was well. There was harmony. There was balance.

~ Alex P Keaton

[–] turtletommy 17 years ago

Yeah I gathered you're a Fox fan from your posting history. (<:

[–] boxerrebellion 9 years ago

Michael J Fox could hardly be referred to as a 'flavor of the month' type. Even now, with the issues he has with his Parkinson's, he is quite a good actor. Don't fool yourself that television actors are 'less' than movie actors.

[–] Neurotic_Marshmallow 17 years ago

I prefer Back to The Future...but I love Malcolm McDowell and the movie [time after time] just as well.

[–] bux 17 years ago

Time after time

[–] Suspected94 16 years ago

Oh Back to the Future.. no question. Time After Time is a fun film. Back to the Future is a classic.

[–] MC1-Bjornson 16 years ago

Back to the Future > Time After Time

Time After Time > BttF II + BttF III (both movies together)

Cheers, ~ MC2
"The reservist formerly known as JO2"

[–] jmbwithcats 12 years ago

I love Time after Time, but Back to the Future is a vastly superior film, a more intelligent and engaging script, better pacing, more relate-able, it's a practically perfect movie.

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[–] hnt_dnl 12 years ago

Tough question because I love both movies. I actually think that BTTF is one of the best films of the 80s, but in fairness, the 70s had MANY MORE truly great films than the 80s did, so TAT just happened to exist in a decade with an amazing amount of classics. TAT is still a personal 70s favorite for me.

They just feel like 2 different movies, even though they're both technically "time travel" films. Both are a lot of fun.

[–] wetcamelfood 9 years ago

Time After Time

[–] prplayer 9 years ago

even though i'm not the biggest BTTF fan, i still think it's a better movie than this

so many movies, so little time